You are creating a racist-pseudo problem:’ Dancer Misty Copeland slammed for starting petition to add more inclusive shades of color to traditional pink ballet shoes
Ballerina Misty Copeland has been slammed for starting a petition to add more inclusive shades of color to the traditional pink Apple ballet shoe emoji.
The 41-year-old dancer and first African-American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, created a petition on Change.org last month with the headline: ‘Let’s Make a Pointe! Apple needs more shades for the ballet shoe.’
She posted about the petition to her 1.8 million Instagram followers that ballet started in 15th century Italy for the white elite and shoes are pink to match light skin.
‘Thankfully, ballet shoe companies are starting to embrace diversity by offering pointe shoes in different shades. Yet when I use Apple’s pointe shoe emoji I only see European Pink,’ she wrote in part.
‘In an era where Apple is showcasing diversity across its emoji spectrum, why is the pointe shoe being left behind?’ This petition is not just about an emoji. It’s about ensuring that the art of ballet, in all its forms, celebrates each dancer’s story and nuance.
As of Saturday afternoon, the petition had 22,343 signatures toward their goal of 25,000.
But many hit back at the skilled dancer who sees racism where it doesn’t exist: ‘You’re creating a racist pseudo-problem,’ The New York Post reported.
Ballerina Misty Copeland, 41, has been slammed for starting a petition to add more inclusive shades of color to the traditional pink Apple ballet shoe emoji
Copeland, who is the first African-American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, created a petition on Change.org last month with the headline: ‘Let’s Make a Pointe! Apple needs more shades for the ballet shoe’
A photo of the Apple emjoi of a pair of European pink ballet pointe shoes
Others joked: ‘It’s an emoji, good grief,’ and ‘Pink isn’t a skin colour.’
While another person expressed their anxiety and the reason why they did not sign.
“I’m not signing because there are far more important reasons to fight for than shoe color,” they wrote.
‘I’m sorry, but immigrants are raped and beaten on their journey here, wars and famines criss-cross the globe and shoes? Really?’
But many supporters were in favor of the change and voiced their opinion.
‘It’s important to see ballet shoes that represent ALL the beautiful men and women dancing in them today!!!’, one person wrote.
Another said: ‘Diversity is important. Do better Apple! And what about Android? They should do better too!’
One person who signed the petition wrote in part: ‘Do better Apple. Android too.’
Copeland wrote a call to action for those who support her cause. “Join me in calling attention to this by signing this petition and encouraging Apple and Unicode to introduce a spectrum of shades for the pointe shoe emoji,” she wrote.
‘Each signature brings us one step closer to a world where ballet, both on stage and in digital spaces, reflects us all.’
On the petition, the elite dancer shared her journey in ballet which she described as filled with ‘moments of triumph and challenge’.
“One of those challenges was the ubiquitous ‘European Pink’ pointe shoe, a shade that didn’t reflect my skin tone,” she said.
“Time and again I found myself coloring my pointe shoes, aiming for a match closer to my own shade. It was a constant reminder of the subtle ways in which dancers of color were not included.’
Copeland performs wildly at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in January 2020
Copeland seen in the studio holding the ballet barre
Copeland started the petition ‘Let’s Make a Pointe! Apple needs more shades for the ballet shoe’ on Change.org dated September 21 which has received more than 22,000 signatures
Copeland responded to someone supporting her cause
Other ways she asked people to help is to share them mission on social media with #MakeAPointe and tag @mistyonpointe on Instagram or @mistycopeland on TikTok.
She said: ‘eEncourage your circle to advocate for this overdue change.’